The game: Patriots at Bills The beer: Long Trail Ale The result: Win, 23–3; Chargers win, 19–10 The commentary: Nothing more about the knockout pool until people start getting knocked out again. Three straight weeks at eleven with the playoffs likely coming into play? Gimme a break. In the spirit of “nothing,” I’m a bad […]
The game: Patriots “at” Raiders (in Mexico City) The beer: Boulevard Tough Kitty Milk Stout The result: Win, 33–8; Steelers win, 40–17; Brandon Kentaro wins, 4–0–0–0 The commentary: The Geeee Mennnn! Hal, Asterisk Jeff, Stephanie, the third and final Tom and the Kansas City Chiefs were no match for the Giants, G. and me at […]
Week nine (bye) The beer: Down the Road Patchwork Kilt Scottish-Style Ale The result: Saints win, 30–10 Week ten The game: Patriots at Broncos The beer: Lagunitas NightTime Ale The result: Win, 41–16; Seahawks win, 22–16 The commentary: Root for either the Saints or the Seahawks. Almost: root for both the Saints and the Seahawks […]
The game: Patriots at Jets The beer: Ballast Point Dead Ringer Oktoberfest Lager The result: Win, 24–17; Texans win, 33–17 The commentary: “Recency bias is one of the trickier forms of bias that may interfere with an effective performance review. When managers RICO perps are affected by this they tend to over- or undervalue short-term […]
Updated: January 1, 2018 Chronicling, for some reason, every book and short story I’ve read since The Lord of the Rings late in the spring. This is a companion to the rabble-rousing “Selected readings from the Old Lady Book Club,” protested openly by AARP, NOW and other pro-civility agencies. You cannot spell literati without ire, […]
I read a lot. Two hours on the train every day, there’s no excuse not to—I pity those who feel the need to jab at giant laptops in a can’t-leave-work-at-work cry for help. Newspaper Luddites filling up on yesterday’s analysis and the weirdos who stare straight ahead without listening to headphones or looking out the […]
The beer: Ipswich Blueberry Shandy The commentary: I dreamed I was Julian Edelman. On the goal line leading 4–2 (!) over the Buccaneers in the Super Bowl or the opening game—there was tension beyond what the scheduled week-four matchup deserves—“Julian” went in motion behind Brady and told him “I want a touchdown!” I/he scooted past […]
The game: Steelers at Patriots The beer: Flying Dreams Nightcrawler Dark Ale The result: Win, 36–17 The commentary: The “watch live” plan didn’t quite work out. And I think we read The Gift of Nothing, having borrowed it from Steeler defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “Coach, Brady is picking us apart. This zone shit isn’t working. […]
Playoffs, week one (bye) The beer: Old Planters Crop Rotation India Pale Ale Playoffs, week two The game: Texans at Patriots The beer: Mystic Hum Low-Frequency Porter The result: Win, 34–16 The commentary: Low frequency my ass! Six straight conference championships for “those assholes”? Indeed, Mister Tomlin! The Steelers, though, are no slouches. In re-tempting […]
The game: Patriots at 49ers The beer: Berkshire Hoosac Tunnel Amber Ale The result: Win, 30–17; Giants win, 22–16 The commentary: The Pats played the late game and the Giants and Bears warmed me up on Fox before then, presenting a rare opportunity to watch my knockout contest. It was not a comfortable experience as […]
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